Colin Bonner - Fulcrum3D

Colin Bonner, Fulcrum3D

Sodar | Cloud Monitoring | Solar Forecasting | Environmental Monitoring

4 April 2017 Informa - Large Scale Solar 2017

Benefits of on-site real-time solar forecasting with CloudCAM

Monitoring for renewable energy

Compact-beam Sodar

low cost, flexible, reliable monitoring solution

performance verified by industry experts

optimised for the wind energy industry

High speed data loggers

unique design allows sampling rate up to 200Hz

noise and weather monitoring

high speed solar monitoring

wind monitoring

CloudCAMsolar forecasting

innovative camera-based cloud monitoring system

cloud detection and cloud statistics

short term cloud prediction (up to 30 min)

Flightdeck data centre

data delivery, analysis & asset management

online fault reports and error detection

24hr secure access web server

Fulcrum3D and 3rd

party products

The problem: solar variability

solar power output is can be variable due to clouds

output can drop or rise by ~80% in a matter of a seconds

major problem as PV penetration increases on microgrids or weak-grids. current solution are:

– storage to provide support during a cloud events, or

– excessive spinning reserve in case of cloud event

– limit penetration

The solution: CloudCAM

real-time cloud detection & solar forecasting

integrate with SCADA via Modbus

– completely standalone system

optional emote access via Flightdeck

Focusing on grid stability / ramp-rate limiting and spinning reserve control.

– Opportunity for LCOE, bidding etc…

CloudCAM images and detection

Clearsky:no cloud detected

Note camera flare, dirt etcremoved

Cloud:robust cloud detected and identified

Site specific horizon mask removes impacts of local vegetation etc

All Sky image Cloud detection

Spinning reserve management

Reduce spinning reserve to save fuel if we know there are no clouds in area. Smaller diesel for less time:

– Operational maintenance saving

– Direct fuel savings

For example, switching from a 640kW set to a 320kW set would save around 12L/h, or reduce spill of PV by reducing the minimum diesel loading constraint, e.g. switching down from a 640kW at 40% minimum loading to a 320kW set at 80% loading would save -- as an extremely rough estimate -- 20L/h for 6h/d for 250d/y at 1$/L = 30000$/y *

ROI of ~1 year for 500~1000kW micro grids without getting too fancy.

* Rough estimate based on NT Power Water Corp tenders

Curtail PV to increase yield ?

Batteries and inverters are cool … but they still obey the first law of thermodynamics.

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PV IN System out Battery Power


Batteries and inverters are cool … but they still obey the first law of thermodynamics.

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Pre-emptive ramp down


Reduction in output from pre-emptive curtailment is less than the power used to charge batteries as charger, battery chemistry and inverter inefficiencies are removed.

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PV IN System out Battery Power System out (CloudCAM)

Benefits of solar forecasting

Forecasting make sense for low-energy high-power storage systems

AEMO ASEFS “Estimated Power” for NEM connected as of Q2 2017

Efficiency driver:

– Use of solar forecasting can increases system yield by reducing use of lossy elements (batteries, chargers, inverters, quiescent fly-wheel load)

Financial drivers:

– CAPEX:

• Reduces size of battery required ( current thought is ~25% )

– OPEX:

• Reduces cycling through battery to extend their life

• Spinning reserve management – direct maintenance and fuel savings

Cost of CloudCAM is in the noise for utility scale solar projects…

Case study: TKLN

TKLN sites are three high penetration sites on NT Power Water Corp microgrids. Sites are owned and operated by Epuron.

Operational since 2013 with up to 90% instantaneous PV penetration, designed for 30% energy.

AC coupled batteries for ramp-rate limiting during cloud events.

– Battery designed life of 10 years (GEL Lead Acid)

– Greater than expected degradation after ~4 years

Retrofitted CloudCAM without modifying PLC or previously commissioned systems.

– CloudCAM in direct control of PV array

– Ran CloudCAM in passive mode for before switching live

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Case study: TKLN

TKLN sites are three high penetration sites on NT Power Water Corp microgrids. Sites are owned and operated by Epuron.

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Case study: TKLN

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SMACluster

ControllerPLC

Tripower

Tripower

Tripower

Tripower

Batteries

PWC Set point

Battery Inverters

Metering point

Modbus

Case study: TKLN

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SMACluster

ControllerPLC

Tripower

Tripower

Tripower

Tripower

Batteries

PWC Set point

Battery Inverters

Metering point

ModbusCloudCAM

Modbus

CloudCAM installation at Ti Tree, NT

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Case study: TKLN

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Cloud detected; predictive ramp-down commences; cloud clears; ramp up and resume normal operation

Note different ramp-up and ramp-down rates are allowed for in this design.

Cloud detected; predictive ramp-down occurs until solar output reaches “safe” level

Cloud clears; ramp up and resume normal operation

Setpoint (Max kW)

PV Output (kW)

System Output (kW)

Battery output (kW)

Possible solar Output (kW)

“safe” level pre-set

Case study: TKLN

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Setpoint (Max kW)

PV Output (kW)

System Output (kW)

Battery output (kW)


Significant fluctuations avoided; minor loss of production; elimination of penalties

Elimination of battery cycling and battery capacity required.

Case study: TKLN

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Significant fluctuations avoided; minor loss of production; elimination of penalties

Setpoint (Max kW)

PV Output (kW)

System Output (kW)

Battery output (kW)


Dramatic reduction in battery cycling; dramatic reduction in battery capacity required (max 50kW battery to cover a 250kW potential step change)

Case study: TKLN

Significant reduction in penalties

Reduced battery use by 90% *

Yield (normalised to irradiance) increased 4~5% *

Page 22* Daniel Gilbert, Epuron

Case study: Karratha Airport

ARENA funded system with storage and solar forecasting on Horizon network

Power topology similar to TKLN, however, CloudCAM supplied as “black box” to integrator and PLC controls PV.

Commissioning Q3 2016 – Q2 2017

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ARENA knowledge sharing

1 Hz pyranometer data (K&Z SMP11) from test sites:

https://flightdeck.fulcrum3d.com/ARENA/

Requires free registration for access to static archived data. Terms and conditions on website. We’ll be adding more data with a typical delay of a month or so.

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Unit 4, 76 Reserve Rd

Artarmon NSW 2064

AUSTRALIA

www.fulcrum3d.com

+61 (2) 8456 7400

4 April 2017 Page 25

Colin Bonner - Fulcrum3D

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